College loyalties put to test among Bulls
The Bulls' airtight team chemistry was put to the test Thursday night.
Joakim Noah hosted a gathering to watch the NCAA tournament, with guests Jimmy Butler, Ronnie Brewer and John Lucas III.
Of course, the featured attraction was Noah's Florida Gators taking on Butler's Marquette Golden Eagles in a regional semifinal. Florida was in control most of the night and won by 10.
“I watched the game with Jimmy,” Noah said. “I've never seen a guy with such an emotional ... his ups and downs were unbelievable. I was trying to stay steady, focused on the game. He was distraught afterward and I let him know about it.”
Back at the Berto Center on Friday, Butler didn't second-guess his decision to watch the game at Noah's house.
“Team function, I guess,” Butler said. “I'll take the trash-talking from Jo any day. I knew I was going to hear it this morning. I didn't know as soon as I walked in the door everyone was going to give it to me. I was talking too much trash for like two straight weeks.”
Game behind the game:
Ronnie Brewer was a neutral observer during the Florida-Marquette viewing party, so he was asked to describe the scene at Joakim Noah's house.
“It was a sight to see,” Brewer said. “Every time Florida hit a shot, Jo got in front of the TV and celebrated. When Marquette was making a run, (Jimmy Butler) was up there imitating Jo.
“Me and John Lucas were sitting, watching and laughing the whole time. John Lucas doesn't like either one of those teams, so he was hating every time everybody scored, like, ‘Yo, they're not that good. They've not going to win a championship.' I just like watching basketball, so I was cheering for both teams.”
Noah won two NCAA titles at Florida and Lucas went to the Final Four with Oklahoma State.
More of the same:
Joakim Noah offered another description of Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau on Friday.
“He's the most consistent guy I've ever met in my whole life,” he said. “He's the same thing every day. I think since he's been here, our practices haven't changed one bit, it seems. Same thing. Go over our skeleton, our plays, go over our defense, shoot. That's it.”